Football Edges Crosstown Rival WPI, 28-21

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Postgame Video With Head Coach Brien Cullen - Casey Hippert  

Worcester, MA --- Senior Corey Spencer (Malden, MA) threw for a pair of touchdowns and sophomore Kemani Jones (Milton, MA) eclipsed 100 yards rushing and added a score to help visiting Worcester State rally from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat WPI 28-21 in an entertaining non-conference football game on Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, the Lancers remain undefeated at 2-0 while the Engineers see its mark level at 1-1.

WPI used its special teams to get off to a good start when, after its defense forced a three-and-out, sophomore Brian Marsh (Wynantskill, NY) blocked a punt and it was recovered in the end zone by classmate Mike Grasis (East Brookfield, MA) for his first career touchdown at 13:02 of the first quarter. 

The Engineers scored again as second-year Zach Grasis (East Brookfield, MA) finished a 15-play, 64-yard drive with a three-yard TD run with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter. 

The Lancers quickly answered as senior Graham Asum (Marlboro, MA) took the ensuing kickoff back 90-yards to make it 14-7. The score would be Asum's fourth career return for a touchdown for the second-longest kickoff return in program history, just five yards away from the top spot.

The second quarter was all Worcester State.  WSU evened the game at 14-14 when Jones hit the pay dirt from four yards out to cap a 14-play 80-yard drive with 10:47 to go before the half. 

The Blue and Gold then took a 21-14 lead into the locker room when Spencer hit junior AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA) in the back right corner of the end zone for a four-yard score with just four seconds remaining. 

On that drive, Scerra would become the ninth Worcester State player to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark for his career.

After a scoreless third stanza, WPI tied the game at 21-21 when Zach Grasis highlighted a 15-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge with 12:05 left in the contest. 

Worcester State fumbled the following kickoff but the Engineers were unable to capitalize on great field position and turned the ball over on downs at the 25 yard-line. 

Worcester State then embarked upon a 13-play, 75-yard drive which proved to set the table for the game winning score.  The Lancers converted a trio of third downs and cashed in when Spencer found sophomore Casey Hippert (Douglas, MA) from 15 yards out to give WSU the 28-21 advantage. 

From there the Worcester State defense stiffened and did not allow another WPI first down for the remainder of the quarter.

Spencer completed 21-of-35 passes for 210 yards and the two scores.  Jones finished with 109 yards on the ground and Scerra hauled in seven catches for 48 yards while Hippert caught four balls for 63 yards. 

Zach Grasis led all players with 121 yards on the ground on 26 carries for WPI. Junior John Antonopoulos (Cambridge, MA) and sophomore Jacob Grills (Easy Lyme, CT) combined to complete half their pass attempts (18-of-36) for 110 yards. Junior Ehab Hamdan (Revere, MA) led the Crimson and Gray reception parade with six catches for 54 yards.

Worcester State was propelled defensively by sophomore Sean Hanley (Wilmington, MA), who notched a team-high 12 tackles, forced a fumble and added a pair of pass breakups.  Asum chipped in nine stops and sophomore Justin Pennellatore (Mansfield, MA) clinched the game with an interception in the final three minutes.

Senior Joe Everett (Columbia, CT) had a monster game for WPI, registering a game-best 13 tackles, including an eye-popping seven for loss (26 yards).  The senior also forced a fumble.  Classmates Shaine Grogan (Dalton, MA) contributed 10 tackles while Nick Chambers (Braintree, MA) and Christopher O'Connor (Bellerose, NY) both made six stops.     

Asum moves into second place on the all-time kickoff return list with 1,190 yards - just 431 away from WSU Hall of Famer Kevin Gniadek's (1998-01) career record.

The game was tightly contested throughout, with Worcester State enjoying a 336-288 advantage in total yards and 31:39-28:21 edge in time of possession.  The victory marked the second straight for the Lancers over the Engineers after WPI had won eight consecutive dating back to 2003. The Engineers still own a 14-6 lead in the all-time series.

WPI takes to the field next Saturday when they travel to Norwich at 2 PM to face the Cadets in the 62nd all-time meeting between the two teams but the first in nearly a decade.

Worcester State travels to Western New England to face the defending New England Conference football champions at 1 o'clock.